The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-07-09

To the Honorable, the Jtt 0es of tn" Circuit
Court for Baltimore County:
The Grand Jury for the May term, 1887, desire
to submit the following report: We have been in
session rs days, docketed pa cases, examined $40
witnesses, found 122 presentments, 1O3 true bills,
dismissed 90 cases, released from Jail prisoners
and ignored 20 cases.
Our time, like that Of so many of the Grand
Juries preceding US, was largely taken up with
violations of the Sunday laws. These violations
have become notorious in certain parts OF the
county to attract the attention of the press and
all worthy people living in the neighborhood. A
continuance of the neglect to enforce these laws
will certainly produce q contempt for all law
Every effort should be made by all of the authori-
ties particularly of the police force, while these
laws remain our statute books, to enforce them
as strictly as any other law of the land. 1t has
been shown to the present Grand Jury that several
race courses are open ON Sunday and the time
made by the horses reported in the daily papers
on Monday morning. That theatrical perform
ances beer gardens, dance houses, &C., are in full
flush ON Sunday. That clubs, organized for the
express purpose of evading these laws, with very
loose rules and methods for increasing their men,
bership, are in existence and open on Sunday,
whilst the law abiding saloon keeper must keep
his place closed. These places resorted to by
people from Baltimore who cannot find the same
entertainment in their own city, according to the
testimony of their Marshal Of Police, who was ex
amined by upon this subject. These things
prove to us that whilst the county police force
contains many worthy and efficient officers, some
of whom have been before us, as q whole it is in
efficient and the sum of twenty five thousand dol
lars expended for its maintenance every year is
wasted. This result is due in a great extent to
the want of system and organization, many of the
officers testifyng to us that they had received no
orders to suppress these violations of the law from
the Marshal of Police of Baltimore county, in
rL,a AL AZ tba
by the Marshal Of Baltimore to his subordinates
upon this subject. We think with proper effort on
the part of the police these violations of the law
can be suppressed. Constabes in many cases in
formed us that they did not 60 away from home
on Sunday, but that they knew liquor sold on
that day. We think all constables should be in
structed to examine the premises of all persons
holding ordinary licenses and whether the
law in reference to having the necessary accom-
modations for man and beast is being complied
with. Many of the constables seem to be in doubt
as to their authority in this matter and it might
be necessary to ask for additional legislation.
committee visited the almshouse and we re-
spectfuly call your attention to the report here.
with submitted. The recommendations made
by the Grand Jury of the December term in refer
ence to accommodations for the insane are fully
cOncurred in by this Jury. We cannot see why
proposals for all supplies to this institution, az
we'll as the Jail, should not be advertised for and
the bid of the lowest responsible bidder be ac-
cepted.
The Grand Jury visited the Jail in BODY. with
out giving the Sheriff any notice of our intention
to do so, consequently we have a right to conclude
that the clearly condition in which we found it
was its usual condition. Clean as we found it, it
is the unanimous opinion of the Jury that the
building is q disgrace to Baltimore county. We
found thirtyfve prisoners confined in twenty -four
cells, and Informed this is rather smaller
hpr IN ha tnfo 70
is brick paved area only 35x24 feet. Into this,
at certain hours of the day. all the prisoners must
| be crowded. The dampness of the whole of this
space is perceptible. The pipes from the water
closets in the cells are exposed and seem to leak
in many places, dropping into this brick area, and
there must be more or less foul gas. The masonry
of the walls Is very poor and none of the cells are
secure. The floors of some of the cells are really
below the surface of the ground and receive some
of the drainage from it. This building is unsafe,
unhealthy and in every way behind the age and
behind the jails of neighboring counties. 1t is
the unanimous opinion of this Jury that it is q
waste of money to attempt to repair it, and that
steps should be at once taken to build new one.
We desire to call the attention of the proper
authorities to the loose manner of making commit
ments by some of the magistrates. Many of them
have been sent to us without single Witness
Particularly is this the with persons arrested
for vagrancy. They are sometimes confined in
Jail for long time without any proof against
them.
A committee made thorough examination of
the books of the Treasurer. The report of the
same is herewith submitted.
We desire to thank your Honors, the States
Attorney and other officers of the Court for their
uniform kindness and assistance to US.
WALTER S. FRANKLIN, Foreman.
To the Foreman and Members of the Grand Jury
for the May Term, 1887:
Your committee appointed to examine the books
of the Treasurer would beg leave to report that
have performed the duty far as the limited time
at our disposal would allow. We found the books
nicely kept and correct so far as we can judge from
the examination made The present financial
condition of the county, with its large balance of
over one hundred thousand dollars on hand and
all obligations paid at maturity, is q matter of
congratulaton. Your committee would suggest
to the Grand Jury that it would be wise on its
part, in view of the fact that general audit of
the accounts of the county has not been made for
about ten years, to recommend to the County Com
missioners that a competent auditor be by them
appointed with instructions to make thorough
audit of all the accounts of the county. We sug-
gest this because the time allowed by the Grand
Jury for this purpose is so limited that it is i'm
possible to comply with the law as is contemplated.
FRANK L. M0RLING,
ROBERT L. BURNS,
GEORGE Fl. BURTON.
The above report and suggestion in reference to
the appointment of an auditor is adopted.
WALTER S. FRANKLIN, Foreman.
Col. Walter S. Franklin, Foreman Grand Jury,
May Term, 1887:
The committee appointed by you to visit and
inspect the county amshouse would respectfully
report that the institution is conducted in most
admirable manner by Mr.. w. H. H. Reed, the
manager, and that all is done possible for the
health and comfort of the inmates. We also
found that the medical department, under charge
of DIR. Charles Whiteford, was well stocked with
the necessary drugs and medicines. There are
ninety five inmates, twenty of whom are in
sane. Two three of the latter are raving ma
MACS and beyond the control of the facilities Of
this institution. We would recommend that these
be removed to some place of safety. We further
recommend that the manager be instructed to make
the necessary repairs to the building, which we
think necessary to its safety and preservation.
Most respectfully submitted,
RICHARD M. HOWARD,
CHARLES w. KR0H,
DAVID EVANS,
WILLIAM SELLERS.